Spot light: Andrea Garrity Wood

 I met Andrea through my son's school and I discovered her talent from an extraordinary program unique to his Charter school called Enrichment Clusters. Andrea creates Mosaics and she was teaching this to the kids in our elementary school. I'm not talking tissue paper and cut out photos from magazines (although I have seen exceptional work with this medium too) no I'm talking about glass and ceramic mosaics with real cutting tools sharp edges, and let me tell you, the results are excellent!  Matter of fact it is the boys in the class that love this art form, all the smashing and cracking of the plates, what kid wouldn't love that!

Andrea picked up her love of this art form while living in Puerto Rico, in the 90's.  Inspired by all the huge installation she saw everywhere, she sought out a shop owner Tom Ross of Coqui International, now named Coqui Stores, who made these colorful displays. Tom taught her in one afternoon the basics and with this knowledge she ran with it.

Now Andrea does not call herself an artist and insist her daughter Delaney is the artist of the family, but as artist don't we all struggle with what we call ourselves?  Especially when our lives are so busy and we do so many things.  Art or craft or what you may call it Andrea has this in her soul. She loves how it is so interpretive... there is no right or wrong...  It can be made WITH what ever you want or ON what ever you want your canvas to be, she even has a stool she covered, but warns, think before you mud... supposedly its a little dangerous to sit on. ;o

She peruses the thrift stores to collect her material, looking at each bit of inspiration in a plate, be it the color, shape or design, and says it feels good to reuse something someone else doesn't want anymore. She is inspired by peoples interest or request. A lot of her Mosaics are brought on by situations, by someone asking her to make something specific or for someone specific.

Andrea says it can take from concept to completion about 20-30 hours to create a piece. This is her art, her "it makes me feel good to do this" outlet, and does not do this for a living. Well I for one hope she continues to do what makes her feel good.... it's contagious!

You can reach Andrea via email:  anddwood@comcast.net